The HIV Molecular Research Group

Established in 2008, the HIV Molecular Research Group (HMRG) is interna-tionally recognized for its translational research into long-term co-morbidities associated with HIV infection and its treatment with antiretrovirals and re-search into models of testing to increase early diagnosis of HIV.

HIV Molecular Research Group

The HMRG, based on the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH)

campus, coordinates international, collaborative, translational research in HIV.

The group comprises researchers with laboratory, statistical and clinical re-

search expertise and is funded through a number of streams including Science

Foundation Ireland, the Health Research Board and several industry support-

ers. The groups research focuses around four principal themes;

- Models of HIV detection. The Mater-Bronx Rapid HIV Testing Project

M-BRiHT, involves collaborations between UCD, MMUH and the Jacobi

Medical Centre in the Bronx, New York, and aims to increase early detection

of HIV, a core strategy to reduce onward HIV transmission. M-BRiHT

combines rapid HIV testing with novel, computer-based video counseling

and offers unselected HIV screening to attendees to the MMUH Emergency

Department. Sponsored by UCD and funded by Gilead Sciences, M-BRiHT

launched in September 2012 and has already recruited over 4,000 subjects,

with plans for international expansion to sites in the UK and Italy in 2013.

- Bone disease in HIV. Low bone mineral density and osteoporosis is com-

mon in those with HIV. The HMRG coordinates a number of international

collaborative projects to define the natural history and pathogenesis of bone

disease in HIV, including the establishment of the HIV UPBEAT cohort, the

largest international prospective cohort of HIV positive and negative subjects

(N=484). With funding from the Health Research Board and GlaxoSmithKline,

HIV UPBEAT has started to yield very exciting results that will be published

in 2013.

- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also increased in HIV. The Reverse Cho-

lesterol Transport Study (RCTS), co-funded by the EU through the European

AIDS Treatment Network (NEAT) and Science Foundation Ireland is explor-

ing mechanisms of dyslipidaemia in HIV. RCTS expands on early work by

HMRG published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases in 2012 on mechanisms

of increased CVD in HIV, and is recruiting 100 subjects with HIV at MMUH

and the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

- HIV Immunology. Through the MMUH ID Cohort Project, the HIV Immunol-

ogy Study, supported by a number of industry partners aims to explore addi-

tional tests that better reflect and predict immune responses to antiretroviral

therapy. This study, in collaboration with Rush University Medical Centre in

Chicago, has recruited over 200 subjects.

In addition to a number of publications and conference presentations, HMRG’s

achievements were recognized in 2012 with the award, by the British HIV As-

sociation, of the ‘Brian Gazzard Lectureship in HIV Medicine’ to Dr Mallon.

Group Head

Dr Patrick Mallon01 716 4519 / paddy.mallon@ucd.ieUCD School of Medicine & Medical Science, Catherine McAuley Education & Research Centre

Research Team

Dr Patrick MallonAssociate Dean for Research and Innovation, UCD SMMS and Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician

Dr Jack LambertSenior Lecturer in Medicine andConsultant in Infectious Diseases

Dr Gerard SheehanSenior Lecturer in Medicine and Consultant in Infectious Diseases

Dr Patrick Mallon

Associate Dean for Research & Innovation /

Consultant in Infectious Diseases

Location: Mater Misericordiae Hospital

Contact: 01 716 4495

Email: paddy.mallon@ucd.ie

I head the HIV Molecular Research Group, which

focuses on translational research into toxicities

of antiretroviral therapy, strategies to increase

population HIV testing and studies aimed at better

understanding immune responses to antiretroviral

treatment.

Major ongoing studies include the HIV UpBEAT

Study, the largest, prospective controlled study into

bone disease in HIV internationally, the M-BRiHT

Study, an international collaborative study of the

first ED-based HIV screening programme in

Ireland, and the Mater Immunology Study, part of

the Mater HIV-ID Cohort Project. In 2012 I was

awarded the Brian Gazzard Lectureship in HIV

Medicine by the British HIV Association.

Dr John ( Jack) Lambert

Senior Lecturer in Medicine /

Consultant in Infectious Diseases

Location: Mater Misericordiae Hospital

Contact: 01 716 4530

Email: jlambert@mater.ie

Current research focused on infections in preg-

nancy and treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. Has

successfully developed a data base at the Rotunda

and Mater to monitor pregnant women with

various infectious diseases, and also monitoring

HIV drug levels in HIV positive pregnant women

in receipt of HIV therapy. Active in hepatitis C

treatment and also developing national policies

and strategies.

Dr Lambert is the recipient of a €228K two year

grant from VIIV Access and Government Affairs

department, to develop a pediatric AIDS database

in two clinics in Eastern Cape South Africa. This

data base will capture information on 2500

children, approximately 2000 of whom are on HIV

treatment and capture important safety and clini-

cal data on these children.

Dr Lambert and his team at the Mater CRC and

Rotunda Hospitals were the recipeient of a €1,000

prize for the ‘best poster award’ for the HIV 11

conference held in Glasgow Nov 2012. This

conference was attended by over 3000 delegates

from Europe and Worldwide. And such an award

is recognition of the hard work of all involved. The

study involved collecting TDM therapeutic drug

monitoring samples on HIV infected pregnant

women from during pregnancy, and labour and

delivery and post partum, and comparing HIV

drug levels in these women at different stages of

pregnancy and in the cord blood samples.

Grants:

Title: Exploring Low Bone Mineral Density in HIV’. Knowledge Exchange and

Dissemination Scheme

Funder: Health Research Board

Start/End Dates: 2012-13

Amount: €24,455

Title: In vitro examination of toxicity of investigational antiretroviral agents

Funder: AiCuris GmbH & Co

Start/End Dates: September 2012 – June 2013

Amount: €50,000

Title: The Mater Bronx Rapid HIV Testing Project (M-BRiHT Project)

Funder: Gilead Sciences

Start/End Dates: 2012-2014

Amount: €564,119

Title: The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital ID-HIV Cohort Project.

Funders: Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Bristol Myers Squibb .

Start/End Dates: 2011-2014

Amount: €142,543

Title: The HIV Reverse Cholesterol Transport Study. ‘HIV RCTS’’. Integration

Grant

Funder: EU FP7 European AIDS Treatment Network (NEAT)

Start/End Dates: 2011-2013

Amount: €50,000 (€15,000 to UCD)

Title: Exploring Low Bone Mineral Density in HIV

Funder: Health Research Board

Start/End Dates: October 2010 - 2013

Amount: €245,806

Title: Understanding the Pathology of Bone Disease in HIV-infected Patients

Funder: GlaxoSmithKline

Start/End Dates: May 2010. 3 years

Amount: UK£396,000 (€491,326)

Title: The St. Marys and The Mater Maraviroc Switch Study.’ A prospective,

randomised study to assess safety, changes in platelet reactivity, plasma cardiac

biomarkers, immunological and metabolic parameters in HIV-1 infected sub-

jects undergoing a switching in antiretroviral therapy

Funder: Pfizer

Start/End Dates: 2009-2012

Amount: UK£108,188 (€134,231)

Title: Exploring antiretroviral-induced adipose tissue toxicity through transla-

tional research

Funder: Science Foundation Ireland

Start/End Dates: May 2009 - 2013

Amount: €199,761

Title: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pregnancy

Funder: Janssen

Start/End Dates: 22/01/2013 to 31/06/2014

Amount: - €24,000

Title: Paediatric ARV Software Development Project- South Africa

Funder: ViiV

Start/End Dates: 9/2/2012 to 31/12/ 2014

Amount: £228,000

Title: TDM in pregnancy study

Funder: BMS

Start/End Dates: 1/6/2011 to 01/07/2013

Amount: €52,700

HIV Molecular Research Group

Researchers Supported:

Dr Gerard O’Connor, Research Fellow

Dr Aoife Cotter, Research Fellow

Dr Jane O’Halloran, Research Fellow

Mr Willard Tinago, PhD Student

Mr Robert Maughan, PhD Student

Ms Sibon Simelaine, Clinical Research Nurse

Ms Elizabeth Coghlan, Clinical Research Nurse

Mr Alan Macken, Data Manager

Mr Brendan Rogers, Laboratory Scientist

Ms Ailbhe Ni Flaitheartaigh, Clinical Research

Assistant

Ms Kathleen Coyle, Clinical Research Assistant

Ms Aoife Lacey, Research Student

Active national and international

collaborators & projects:

Prof Caroline Sabin, University College London.

HIV UPBEAT and HRB Bone

Prof Juliet Compston, University of Cambridge.

HIV UPBEAT

Prof Yvette Calderon, Jacobi medical Centre,

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx,

New York. M-BRiHT

Prof Peter Reiss, University of Amsterdam.

RCTS Study

Prof Alan Landay, Rush University Medical Centre,

Chicago HIV Immunology Study

Prof Dermot Kenny, Royal College of Surgeons

in Ireland, Platelet Dysfunction in HIV

Dr Anton Pozniak, St Stephens AIDS Trust the

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London

RCTS Study

Publications:

1. Babiker A, Castro nee Green H, Compagnucci A, Fiscus S, Giaquinto C, Gibb

DM, et al. First-line antiretroviral therapy with a protease inhibitor versus non-

nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and switch at higher versus low viral

load in HIV-infected children: an open-label, randomised phase 2/3 trial. Lancet

Infect Dis 2011,11:273-283.

2. Caswell RJ, Phillips D, Chaponda M, Khoo SH, Taylor GP, Ghanem M, et al.

Utility of therapeutic drug monitoring in the management of HIV-infected

pregnant women in receipt of lopinavir. Int J STD AIDS 2011,22:11-14.

3. Chróinín DN, Doyle J, Mallon P, Sheehan G, Lambert J. An unusual cause of

acute delirium in a septogenarian with Alzheimer’s dementia. European Geriatric

Medicine. 2012; 3:S74

4. Cotter AG, Mallon PW. HIV infection and bone disease: implications for an

aging population. Sex Health 2011,8:493-501.

5. Cotter AG, Mallon PW. Therapeutic options for low bone mineral density in

HIV-infected subjects. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2012, 9:148-159.

6. Cotter AG, Satchell CS, O’halloran JA, Feeney ER, Sabin CA, Mallon PW.

High-density lipoprotein levels and 10-year cardiovascular risk in HIV-1-infected

patients. AIDS 2011, 25:867-869.

7. Cotter AG, Mallon PWG. The crosstalk between bone and fat in HIV-

infected patients, with a focus on lipodistrophy. Clin Rev Bone Miner Metab.

2012:10;266-276.

8. Else L, Jackson V, Brennan M, Breiden J, Lawless M, Coulter Smith S, et al.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of atazanavir in pregnancy. Journal of the

International AIDS Society 2012 2012,15.

9. Feeney ER, Chazallon C, O’Brien N, Meiffrédy V, Goodall RL, Aboulker JP, et

al. Hyperlactataemia in HIV-infected subjects initiating antiretroviral therapy in a

large randomized study (a substudy of the INITIO trial). HIV Med 2011,12:602-

609.

10. Feeney ER, Mallon PW. HIV and HAART-Associated Dyslipidemia. Open

Cardiovasc Med J 2011,5:49-63.

11. Feeney ER, Mallon PW. Insulin resistance in treated HIV infection. Best Pract

Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011, 25:443-458.

12. Feeney ER, van Vonderen MG, Wit F, Danner SA, van Agtmael MA, Villar-

roya F, et al. Zidovudine/lamivudine but not nevirapine in combination with

lopinavir/ritonavir decreases subcutaneous adipose tissue mitochondrial DNA.

AIDS 2012, 26:2165-2174.

13. Fox D, O’Connor R, Mallon P, McMahon G. Simultaneous determination

of efavirenz, rifampicin and its metabolite desacetyl rifampicin levels in human

plasma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011,56:785-791.

14. Lambert JS, Else LJ, Jackson V, Breiden J, Gibbons S, Dickinson L, et al.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of lopinavir/ritonavir in pregnancy. HIV Med

2011,12:166-173.

15. McGinty T, Mallon PWG. Pharmacology of Antiretroviral Drugs. In: Somesh

Gupta, Bhushan Kumar, eds. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2nd ed. New Delhi,

India: Elsevier, 2012: 805-825. ISBN: 978-81-312-2809-8

16. Moughty AM, O’Connor G. Images in clinical medicine. Bilateral anterior

shoulder dislocation. N Engl J Med 2012,367:e12.

17. O’Connor G, Ramiah V, Breslin T, McInerney JJ, Brazil E. Looking beyond

Morison’s pouch in focused assessment with sonography for trauma: penetrat-

ing hepatobiliary trauma and a new sign for emergency physicians. Emerg Med

J 2012.

18. O’Connor G, Ramiah V, McInerney J, Moughty A. Splenic rupture visualised

with focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST): heterogene-

ous echogenicity of acute haemorrhage following blunt trauma. BMJ Case Rep

2012, 2012.

19. O’Halloran JA, De Gascun CF, Dunford L, Carr MJ, Connell J, Howard R, et

al. Hepatitis B virus vaccine failure resulting in chronic hepatitis B infection. J Clin

Virol 2011, 52:151-154.

20. Satchell CS, O’Halloran JA, Cotter AG, Peace AJ, O’Connor EF, Tedesco AF,

et al. Increased platelet reactivity in HIV-1-infected patients receiving abacavir-

containing antiretroviral therapy. J Infect Dis 2011,204:1202-1210.

21. Post FA, McCloskey EV, Compston JE, Bowman CA, Hay PE, Johnson MA,

Mallon PWG, Peters BS, Samarawickrama A, Tudor-Williams G. Prevention of

bone loss and management of fracture risk in HIV-infected individuals: case

studies and recommendations for different patient subgroups. Future Virology.

2011; 6(6):769-782.

HIV Molecular Research Group